Farewell to a hero

Nov 12 2009 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

HUNDREDS of mourners gathered in Paisley yesterday to bid farewell to a hero.

Tears were shed and tributes were paid as Paul McGee was laid to rest on Armistice Day with a colourful military send-off.

Guardsman Paul died in Paisleys Royal Alexandra Hospital following an incident in his home village of Lochwinnoch in the early hours of Sunday, October 25.

The tragedy came two years after the brave tank driver, 28, risked his life in a desperate bid to save a drowning comrade in Iraq an act which earned him the prestigious Queens Commendation for Bravery.

Around 500 mourners including Army top brass, serving soldiers from The Scots Guards, Renfrewshire Provost Celia Lawson, Council Leader Derek Mackay and Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Douglas Alexander packed into Paisley Town Hall for the touching funeral service.

And another 100 people wearing poppies with many war veterans among them paid their respects by standing outside with their heads bowed for the hour-long Humanist ceremony.

The skirl of bagpipes, played by Pipe Major Brian Heriot of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, filled the air as the funeral cortege arrived in Abbey Close at 10am and six soldiers carried Pauls coffin, which was draped in the Union flag, inside.

Emotions ran high when the services powerful opening song Arms Of The Angels, by Sarah McLachlan, was played.

Humanist celebrant Joe Hughes described Paul as a decent, very caring, loyal, jocular and light-hearted young man and said his was a life suddenly and heartbreakingly cut short.

Mr Hughes said losing Paul was like the sun being eclipsed for his mum Anne, sister Kelly, gran Anna, girlfriend Helen Laycock and everyone else who knew him.

Kelly bravely maintained her composure to read a poem about Paul, which included the line: His bravery second to none, his courage fierce and true.

Mr Hughes said former Reid Kerr College art and design student Paul inherited his artistic side from his late father John, who died in his 30s.

Paul is understood to have become involved in a dispute between a taxi driver and another man on the night he died.

Yesterday, his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Lincoln Jopp, paid tribute to him as a rock solid Guardsman and a true professional who wouldnt leave until the job was done.

Referring to his bravery award, Lt Col Jopp added: In Iraq, tragedy called Paul to greatness. The fact is that Paul was a hero that night.

Paul died standing up for right. Paul died as he had lived a great hero.

Mr Hughes painted a picture of a man who had many interests in life, saying Paul was a big fan of JRR Tolkien books and had been learning Russian on and off.

He described his death as tragic, violent and premature.

At the end of the service, the song Paint It Black, by The Rolling Stones, was played ahead of closing music Take Me Home, by Kate Corrigan.

And as Pauls coffin with his Army belt, hat, medals and a ring of poppies on top was brought out to the waiting hearse, pipe music filled the air once again.

As the Paisley Town Hall clock struck 11am, two minutes of silence was observed by everyone from soldiers in Army combats to passing mums pushing kids in buggies.

Pauls remains were then taken to Lochwinnoch Cemetery, where a dozen of his fellow Guardsmen solemnly lined the path to the graveside.

As his coffin was lowered into the grave at around noon, the winter sun shone through and, 20 minutes later, a Royal Navy Sea King rescue chopper carried out a dramatic fly past salute.

Towards the end of the service, the Dire Straits song Brothers In Arms was played and mourners threw their Armistice Day poppies into Pauls grave as they left.

Provost Lawson paid tribute by saying: This is an extremely sad occasion and a tragic loss for the armed services, the community and the family.

It is especially poignant that we should pay tribute to Pauls life on Remembrance Day.

Councillor Mackay added: This is a tragic loss of life.

Paul was a Renfrewshire hero and a decorated young man who was clearly respected by his local and wider community. He was a tribute to his regiment.

Paul was awarded the Queens Commendation for Bravery after he had been driving a tank in Iraq in pitch-black conditions at 3am and noticed another armoured vehicle, being driven by Army colleague Stephen Ferguson, was in trouble.

The pals, who were in the same platoon, were patrolling with The Scots Guards when the tank Stephen was driving plunged into a canal.

Paul jumped into the water in an effort to save his friend but his efforts were ultimately in vain and 31-year-old Stephen lost his fight for life.

Mr Alexander said: The ceremony for Paul McGee was a fitting tribute to a fine man and a genuine hero.

All of Renfrewshire will mourn the passing of this outstanding soldier.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Anne and Kelly at this time.

l Two men appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court last month in connection with Pauls death.

Ian Wallace, of Ryefield Avenue, Johnstone, and Barry John McGrory, of Park Ridge, Erskine, are alleged to have repeatedly punched and stabbed Paul.

Neither Wallace nor McGrory made any plea or declaration during their brief appearance on petition and both accused were remanded in custody.